Unemployment Rate Drops in All Metro Areas for Sixth Consecutive Month

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates

CHICAGO-Unemployment rates decreased over-the-year in November in all of Illinois's metropolitan areas, according to preliminary data released today by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES). Data also show nonfarm jobs increased in ten of the metropolitan areas and decreased in four.

"It is encouraging that job growth was reported in ten of the fourteen metro areas," said IDES Director Jeff Mays. "More than 30,000 of those jobs were created in the Chicago Metro area, so we need continued stronger growth statewide."

Illinois businesses added jobs in ten metro areas, with the largest increases in: Kankakee (+2.6 percent, +1,200), Lake/Kenosha (+2.4 percent, +9,800), and the Quad Cities (+1.6 percent, +3,000). Total nonfarm jobs in the Chicago-Naperville-Arlington Heights Metro Division increased (+0.6 percent or +20,900). Illinois businesses lost jobs in four metro areas, with the largest losses in: Danville (-1.7 percent, -500), Champaign (-0.6 percent, -700), and Decatur (-0.6 percent, -300).

The industry sectors recording job growth in the majority of metro areas included Professional and Business Services, (11 of 14), Mining and Construction (10 of 14), Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities (10 of 14), Manufacturing (9 of 14), Education and Health Services (9 of 14), and Leisure and Hospitality (8 of 14).

Not seasonally adjusted data compares November 2017 with November 2016. The not seasonally adjusted Illinois rate was 4.7 percent in November 2017 and stood at 12.2 percent at its peak in this economic cycle in January 2010. Nationally, the not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 3.9 percent in November 2017 and 10.6 percent in January 2010 at its peak. The unemployment rate identifies those who are out of work and looking for work, and is not tied to collecting unemployment insurance benefits.

Total Nonfarm Jobs (Not Seasonally Adjusted) - November 2017

Not Seasonally Adjusted Unemployment Rates
(percent) for Local Counties and Areas

East Central Illinois Highlights

Help Wanted

Area employers advertised for 5,000 positions in November and approximately 84 percent sought full-time employment, according to Help Wanted OnLine data compiled by the Conference Board, which is a global, independent business membership and research association. Employers need more workers than the help wanted advertising indicates because some industries, such as Construction, typically do not post advertised job openings. Many employment opportunities were offered in Health Care, Transportation, and Sales in late fall 2017. Numerous job openings were also available in Education-Training, Office Support, Computer, Management, and Business-Financial careers. Workers were needed in Health Care Support, Food Service, Social Services and Installation, Maintenance and Repair occupations.

Champaign-Urbana MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 4.2 percent in November 2017 from 4.7 percent in November 2016. In November 2017, there were an estimated 5,000 unemployed in the labor force.

Non-farm employment decreased from its year-ago level by -700. Government (+400), Information (+300), Manufacturing, (+200), Education-Health Services (+200), and Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+100) recorded employment gains. Retail Trade (-700), Leisure-Hospitality (-700), Wholesale Trade (-300), and Professional-Business Services (-200) recorded payroll losses from November 2016.

Danville MSA

The not seasonally adjusted unemployment rate declined to 6.0 percent in November 2017 from 6.7 percent in November 2016. In November 2017, there were an estimated 2,000 unemployed in the labor force.

Non-farm employment decreased from its year-ago level by -500. Job gains were reported in Transportation-Warehousing-Utilities (+100). Government (-300), Financial Activities (-100), Professional-Business Services (-100), and Education-Health Services (-100) recorded an employment loss since November 2016.